Planning ahead

[Bob Calver]

I am planning to walk El Camino del Norte in May next year (2019). I have family in Cantabria so for sentimental reasons (and some practical ones) want to start my pilgrimage there. I'm thinking of starting from Castro Urdiales. Any advice/thoughts/warnings will be gratefully received. I've walked a few trail stages - Comillas to Colombres, Santillana to Comillas and Santander as far as Boo. I'll be almost 67 by next may but am pretty fit. Bob

 

[Colette Z]

I am planning to walk El Camino del Norte in May next year (2019). I have family in Cantabria so for sentimental reasons (and some practical ones) want to start my pilgrimage there. I'm thinking of starting from Castro Urdiales. Any advice/thoughts/warnings will be gratefully received. I've walked a few trail stages - Comillas to Colombres, Santillana to Comillas and Santander as far as Boo. I'll be almost 67 by next may but am pretty fit. Bob

I just finished the entire El Norte and the stage from Castro Urdiales to Santono, here’s my journaled summary so make sure you get good directions - I’d take the coastal,route if physically capable otherwise takebthe long route that starts to the left under the highway overpass bridge - the road was my worse day.

CdN Day 11: Castro-Urdiales to Santoña (36 gruelling kms ). A day I don’t want repeat. There were 3 possible routes: 1 flat boring and 35km, another 25km high up on a coast path and the 3rd 25km straight roadside walking (pavement all day). I had decided to take the safer straightforward flatter long route but after 3 km on it a local man told me it was crazy long and walked me back down and showed me the coastal route. Weather was 20C no winds so I was confident taking the high coastal path but when I got to the start 5 km later a local lady warned me against it saying it was crazy to go alone as it was narrow with sheer cliff drops to the ocean so back I went and ended up on the worst being a 2 lane highway with minimal shoulder to walk. 31 km later I arrived in Laredo a beach resort where I took off my socks and sandals and walked in the cold Atlantic water (therapeutic) for 5 km more to the docks where thank God the tiny ferry was waiting to skipper me across to the other side of the bay to Santoña. This ferry service just started the season today and i caught the last one. If not it would have meant an additional 18 km walk around the bay. So despite my 2 Camino angels today not being able to agree I made it and enjoyed the beach. Now to sleep. Tomorrow is another day - to Güemes. Not many pics.

 

[AJGuillaume]

I am planning to walk El Camino del Norte in May next year (2019). I have family in Cantabria so for sentimental reasons (and some practical ones) want to start my pilgrimage there. I'm thinking of starting from Castro Urdiales. Any advice/thoughts/warnings will be gratefully received. I've walked a few trail stages - Comillas to Colombres, Santillana to Comillas and Santander as far as Boo. I'll be almost 67 by next may but am pretty fit. Bob

@Bob Calver , there is some great advice on the alternatives written by @peregrina2000 : https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/coastal-alternatives-to-the-nortes-asphalt.49578/
My wife and I are also in our 60's, and we're walking the Norte during September and October. I have also taken the advice from @Luka on walking the coastal bit between Castro Urdiales and Laredo (the bit referred to by @Colette Zaharie ): there is a marked path, and it is safe, so we're following that path. We're actually breaking the journey in Oriñon (found an AirBnB place), so that we can walk that coast at a leisurely pace. If you remind me in October, I'll let you know how it was.
Buen Camino!

 

[Colette Z]

@Bob Calver , there is some great advice on the alternatives written by @peregrina2000 : https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/coastal-alternatives-to-the-nortes-asphalt.49578/
My wife and I are also in our 60's, and we're walking the Norte during September and October. I have also taken the advice from @Luka on walking the coastal bit between Castro Urdiales and Laredo (the bit referred to by @Colette Zaharie ): there is a marked path, and it is safe, so we're following that path. We're actually breaking the journey in Oriñon (found an AirBnB place), so that we can walk that coast at a leisurely pace. If you remind me in October, I'll let you know how it was.
Buen Camino!

Yes I printed out and used peregrina2000 alternate route descriptions BUT given I had heavy rain and at times high winds walking the coastal path alone was just too risky. But I did walked 90% coastal,routes.

 

[Suzanne S.]

Hi @Bob Calver ! I'm starting del Norte around May 1, 2019. I am planning on getting to Castro Urdiales around May 9 (or so...). I have no idea what route I will be taking. If I am following you, I'll be on the lookout for some updates! If I'm ahead of you, I will try to post some! If we get there on the same day, we better have a vino tinto.

Buen Camino!!!
Suzanne

 

[Bob Calver]

Hi @Bob Calver ! I'm starting del Norte around May 1, 2019. I am planning on getting to Castro Urdiales around May 9 (or so...). I have no idea what route I will be taking. If I am following you, I'll be on the lookout for some updates! If I'm ahead of you, I will try to post some! If we get there on the same day, we better have a vino tinto.

Buen Camino!!!
Suzanne

Thank you. I will keep in touch - and good luck with your own plans

 

[Bob Calver]

Yes I printed out and used peregrina2000 alternate route descriptions BUT given I had heavy rain and at times high winds walking the coastal path alone was just too risky. But I did walked 90% coastal,routes.

Thank you for this. It's all very helpful. I know that from Santander to Boo de Pielagos the coastal route is considerably longer but, having walked the shorter 'official' leg at Easter I know the coastal route is much more attractive

 

[Bob Calver]

@Bob Calver , there is some great advice on the alternatives written by @peregrina2000 : https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/coastal-alternatives-to-the-nortes-asphalt.49578/
My wife and I are also in our 60's, and we're walking the Norte during September and October. I have also taken the advice from @Luka on walking the coastal bit between Castro Urdiales and Laredo (the bit referred to by @Colette Zaharie ): there is a marked path, and it is safe, so we're following that path. We're actually breaking the journey in Oriñon (found an AirBnB place), so that we can walk that coast at a leisurely pace. If you remind me in October, I'll let you know how it was.
Buen Camino!

Thank you for your help and support

 

[Bob Calver]

Hi @Bob Calver ! I'm starting del Norte around May 1, 2019. I am planning on getting to Castro Urdiales around May 9 (or so...). I have no idea what route I will be taking. If I am following you, I'll be on the lookout for some updates! If I'm ahead of you, I will try to post some! If we get there on the same day, we better have a vino tinto.

Buen Camino!!!
Suzanne

Hi I hope your Camino goes well. For various reasons I am now starting my walk from Castro Urdiales at the end of August. One quick question. I have my 'pilgrim passport' but how do I get my first stamp. As Castro Urdiales is a rather random starting point I am not clear how I 'sign in' as it were

 

[Suzanne S.]

Hi I hope your Camino goes well. For various reasons I am now starting my walk from Castro Urdiales at the end of August. One quick question. I have my 'pilgrim passport' but how do I get my first stamp. As Castro Urdiales is a rather random starting point I am not clear how I 'sign in' as it were

Hi Bob, interestingly, my Camino will now start on August 29 in Irun, so you'll still be just ahead of me! You don't need to sign in, per see, you simply need to get your first stamp. That can happen at albergues, hostals, bars, visitor's centers. Maybe our paths will cross, even still! Buen Camino!

 

[Bob Calver]

Hi Bob, interestingly, my Camino will now start on August 29 in Irun, so you'll still be just ahead of me! You don't need to sign in, per see, you simply need to get your first stamp. That can happen at albergues, hostals, bars, visitor's centers. Maybe our paths will cross, even still! Buen Camino!

Hi Bob, interestingly, my Camino will now start on August 29 in Irun, so you'll still be just ahead of me! You don't need to sign in, per see, you simply need to get your first stamp. That can happen at albergues, hostals, bars, visitor's centers. Maybe our paths will cross, even still! Buen Camino!

Thank you for this. Buen Camino. As you say maybe our

 

[Bob Calver]

Thank you for this. Buen Camino. As you say maybe our paths will cross. Was in Spain over Easter with my family there. Great to see a number of pilgrims and to wish them well